Vaporized aerosol detection network

ABSTRACT

A vaporized aerosol, particle, and gas detection network includes an entry unit that includes a trigger sensor configured to detect a triggering event in an environment. Further the trigger sensor generates a detection signal in response to the detected triggering event in the environment. The entry unit also includes an entry unit housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the trigger sensor. The network additionally includes a detection unit communicatively connected to the entry unit that includes a particle sensor configured to detect a particle count of the environment in response to the generation of the detection signal. The detection unit also has a detection unit housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the particle sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/929,893 filed on Nov. 3, 2019 andentitled “Distributed Cloud Enabled Device Network”, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of detection ofvaporized aerosols. In particular, the present invention is directed toa system and method of sensors and signals to detect substances ofinterest and alert one or more users to its detection.

BACKGROUND

The proliferation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) andElectronic Non-Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENNDS) requires the detectionof the products of those systems in certain indoor areas and/orvehicles. Currently, some systems for the detection of vaporizedaerosols are used in limited settings. Further these systems are limitedby their power management and lack of adaptability.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an aspect, a vaporized aerosol, particle, and gas detection networkis presented. The network includes an entry unit disposed at a firstlocation of an environment. The entry unit includes a trigger sensorconfigured to detect a triggering event in the first location of theenvironment and generate a detection signal in response to the detectedtriggering event in the first location of the environment. The entryunit also includes an entry unit housing configured to enclose at leasta portion of the trigger sensor. The network further includes adetection unit communicatively connected to the entry unit. Thedetection unit includes a particle sensor configured to detect aparticle count of the environment in response to the generation of thedetection signal and a detection unit housing configured to enclose atleast a portion of the particle sensor.

These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art uponreview of the following description of specific non-limiting embodimentsof the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show aspectsof one or more embodiments of the invention. However, it should beunderstood that the present invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an aerosolized substancedetection system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2A is an isometric view illustrating a housing for an aerosolizedsubstance detection system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2B is an isometric cutaway view illustrating a housing for anaerosolized substance detection system, according to embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-B are block diagrams illustrating architectures for anaerosolized substance detection system, according to exampleembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a graphical user interface on a user device for an aerosolizedsubstance detection system, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for an aerosolizedsubstance detection, according to embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of power management of anaerosolized substance detection system, according to embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a graph representing example graphical thresholding values,according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a computing device in the exampleform of a computer system, according to embodiments.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated byphantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details that are not necessary for an understandingof the embodiments or that render other details difficult to perceivemay have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At a high level, with reference to FIG. 1, a system of sensors andcomponents to detect vaporized substances of interest within anenvironment is provided. The system comprises an entry device and adetection device disposed at respective, distinct locations in anenvironment 108 where a substance such as a vaporized aerosol containingchemical particles may be present and wherein the entry device anddetection device may each be connected to at least one of a plurality ofservers 112 a-c. In an aspect, each device may include a housing, whichmay encapsulate at least a portion of each of the entry device anddetection device system components. The housing may be disposed in anenvironment 108 having a vaporized substance of interest present.Substances of interest may be present and have a microscopic ormacroscopic size, a distribution, and a count. Devices of the system mayenter low power consumption modes to extend component and battery 132life.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an aerosolized substance detection system isconfigured to detect substances of interest 104 within environment 108and generate an alarm based on detected substance and/or particles.Substances of interest (also referred to herein as “substances”) 104 maycomprise aerosolized particles, disallowed and/or discouraged substances(such as vapor from a vaping device or e-cigarette, smoke from tobacco,smoke from drug use, or the like), gasses, gaseous clouds, gaseouschemicals, biologicals (such as viruses, bacteria, pathogens, or thelike) or any combination thereof. Further, aerosolized substancedetection system 100 can be configured to transmit and store a signalindicating an alarm and/or data relating to detected substances to atleast one server of a plurality of servers 112 a-c. Any and all signalsgenerated by aerosolized substance detection system 100 may beadditionally or alternatively stored onboard in a memory (discussedbelow) or remotely on servers 112 a-c.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, aerosolized substance detectionsystem 100 includes an entry unit 116 disposed at a first locationwithin environment 108. Entry unit 116 is configured to generate adetection signal in response to a detected triggering event withinenvironment 108. For detecting a triggering event, entry unit 116 cancomprise a trigger sensor such as motion sensor 120, particle sensor(similar or the same as particle sensor 152, discussed below), chemicalsensor (similar or the same as chemical sensor 156, discussed below),temperature sensor (similar or the same as temperature sensor 160,discussed below), humidity sensor (similar or the same as particlesensor 164, discussed below), camera (similar or the same as camera 180,discussed below), or a tamper sensor (similar or the same as tampersensor 140, discussed below). A “triggering event”, as used herein,comprises an event of interest that occurs within or proximate to one ormore locations within environment 108 such as detected movement,detected predetermined substances of interest, detected particle counts,detected particle densities, detected temperatures, detected objectswithin a video and/or image, detected humidity, a detected tamper event,or any combination thereof.

For example, entry unit 116 can include a motion sensor 120 configuredto detect movement in and/or proximate to its location within anenvironment 108 and generate a detection signal in response to detectedmovement in the environment 108. In embodiments, motion sensor 120includes one or more sensors, each configured to detect motion,proximity, and/or presence within or proximate to the entry unit'slocation. Motion sensor 120 is configured to detect the motion,proximity, and/or presence of one or more objects 124 a-b withinenvironment 108. For example, motion sensor 120 may include lightsensors (such as infrared sensors, passive infrared sensors, areareflective type sensors, etc.), microwave sensors, ultrasound sensors,vibration sensors, dual technology sensors, or any combination thereof,to name a few. Objects 124 a-b may include people, animals, vehicles,inanimate objects 124 a-b, or any combination thereof, to name a fewexamples. For example, motion sensor 120 can be configured to detect themotion of a person in environment 108. According to embodiments, motionsensor 120 can be configured to detect when objects 124 a-b enter orleave environment 108 such as by observing the motion, proximity, and/orpresence of objects 124 a-b.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, environment 108may include an area of interest in which vaporized aerosols areprohibited or discouraged. For example, environment 108 can includeareas of a school (such as classrooms, halls, bathrooms, school yards,gymnasiums, school buses, or any combination thereof, to name a few),rental vehicles (such as rental cars, moving trucks, rented recreationalvehicles, etc.), business vehicles (such as company cars, vans,tractor-trailer trucks, etc.), rideshare vehicles, areas of an airplane,boat, train, and/or bus (such as cockpits, cabins, bathrooms, or anycombination thereof, to name a few), residences, rental homes, rentalapartments, retirement communities, hotels (such as hotel rooms, hotelconference rooms, ballrooms, etc.), motel rooms, workplaces (such asoffices, restaurants, factories, warehouses, parking structures, or anycombination thereof, to name a few), hospitals, rehabilitationfacilities, correctional facilities, or any combination thereof.

In embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 1, when entry unit116 detects a triggering event such as motion, proximity, duration,speed, size, detection of predetermined substances of interest, atampering event, and/or presence of objects 124 a-b within environment108, entry unit 116 may be configured to generate a detection signal. Adetection signal may include an analog and/or digital signal indicatingdetails of a triggering event such as the location, area, motion,proximity, and/or presence of objects 124 a-b within a location ofenvironment 108, a particle count at a location within environment 108,detection of a tampering event, or any combination thereof. According toembodiments, entry unit 116 can include a motion sensor 120 configuredto generate a detection signal when it detects an object entering,within, or proximate to an entry unit's location within environment 108.In embodiments, a detection signal may indicate a time, size, speed,duration, and/or quantity of objects 124 a-b entering, within, orproximate to an entry unit's location within environment 108.

According to embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 1, thesensors (such as motion sensor 120) of entry unit 116 can beelectronically and/or communicatively coupled to an entry unitelectronics stack 128 and may be configured to provide a detectionsignal to entry unit electronics stack 128 when the detection signal isgenerated. In embodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may beproximate to motion sensor 120 while in other embodiments entry unitelectronics stack 128 may be remote from motion sensor 120. Inembodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may comprise analog and/ordigital circuitry configured to condition, analyze, and/or transformreceived signals. For example, entry unit electronics stack 128 maycomprise a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a power microcontroller, aprocessor, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analogconverter, logic circuitry, a memory (e.g. flash memory, hard diskdrive, solid state memory, random-access memory, programmable read-onlymemory, electronically erasable programmable read-only memory, or anycombination thereof, to name a few), or any combination thereof, to namea few. According to embodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may beconfigured to store received signals from motion sensor 120 in a memory.

In embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 1, entry unitelectronics stack 128 may be configured to determine a triggering event(such as if an object has entered environment 108, a predeterminedsubstance has been detected, etc.) by analyzing a received detectionsignal. Analyzing a detection signal may include comparing a level ofthe detection signal to a predetermined threshold value. For example,analyzing a detection signal may include comparing a level of thedetection signal to a movement threshold value, comparing a timeindicated by the detection signal to a time threshold, comparing aduration indicated by the detection signal to a duration threshold,comparing a size indicated by the detection signal to a size threshold,or any combination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, thesepredetermined thresholds may be stored within entry unit electronicsstack 128 while in other embodiments they may be stored remotely.According to embodiments, a user may set, adjust, cancel, or otherwisemanipulate these threshold levels from a user device, whether thosethresholds are stored within entry unit electronics stack 128 orremotely in servers 112 a-c.

According to embodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 can beconfigured to send a detection signal to communications hub 172 whichmay be configured to analyze the received detection signal according topredetermined threshold values stored on communications hub 172.Communications hub 172 may further be configured to transmit a receiveddetection signal to servers 112 a-c which may be configured to analyzethe received detection signal according to predetermined thresholdvalues stored on servers 112 a-c.

In embodiments, and further referring to FIG. 1, entry unit electronicsstack 128 may be electronically or communicatively coupled to an energystorage device, such as a battery 132. A battery 132 may comprise one ormore battery elements/batteries disposed in one or more locations withinenvironment 108. In embodiments, a respective battery 132 may beproximate to entry unit 116, detection unit 144, communication hub 172,repeater node 176, camera 180, or any combination thereof. A respectivebattery 132 may include one or more battery 132 elements in paralleland/or series configured to provide power to at least a portion of entryunit 116 (including motion sensor 120, electronics stack 128, and/ortampering sensor 140), detection unit 144 (including sensor suit 148which may include particle sensor 152, chemical sensor 156, temperaturesensor 160, and humidity sensor 164), communication hub 172, repeaternode 176, camera 180, or any combination thereof. For example, battery132 may comprise one or more lithium-ion batteries, alkaline batteries,lead-acid batteries, aluminum-ion batteries, flow batteries,magnesium-ion batteries, metal-air electrochemical cells, nickel-ionbatteries, zinc-ion batteries, or any combination thereof, to name afew. According to embodiments, a battery 132 may comprise an alternativepower source such as an alternating current (“AC”) power source, directcurrent (“DC”) power source, power over ethernet (PoE), a solarphotovoltaic cell, wireless power transfer, a wind turbine, or anycombination thereof, and/or power electronics such as a half-bridgerectifier, full-bridge rectifier, inverter, maximum-point power tracker,power converter (such as a buck converter, boost converter, buck-boostconverter, flyback converter, transformer, etc.), or any combinationthereof, to name a few. In embodiments, if a battery 132 includes PoE, aDC power source, and/or an AC wall outlet power, operation of at least aportion of entry unit 116 (including motion sensor 120, electronicsstack 128, and/or tampering sensor 140), detection unit 144 (includingsensor suit 148 which may include particle sensor 152, chemical sensor156, temperature sensor 160, and humidity sensor 164), communication hub172, repeater node 176, camera 180, or any combination thereof connectedto such a battery 132 may remained powered at all times. A battery 132and/or energy storage device may alternatively or additionally include akinetic, capacitive, inductive, fuel-based (e.g. a fuel cell) and/or anyother device or component for storage of electrical energy and/orchemical or other energy for conversion to electronic energy.

According to embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 1, abattery 132 and/or energy storage device may be configured to providepower to at least a portion of entry unit 116, detection unit 144,communication hub 172, repeater node 176, camera 180, or any combinationthereof based upon an electronics stack. In embodiments, an electronicsstack may comprise power management circuitry including, for example, apower microcontroller, switches, relays, transistors, linear regulators,power converters, or any combination thereof, to name a few.

Still referring to FIG. 1, power management circuitry of entry unitelectronics stack 128 may be configured to provide power from a battery132 to at least a portion of sensor suite 148, entry unit electronicsstack 128, tampering sensor 140, communication hub 172, repeater node176, camera 180, or any combination thereof based upon a receiveddetection signal from motion sensor 120, or another sensor configured toact as a trigger for the power management circuitry, and may include areal time clock configured to keep track of time. According toembodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may be configured toprovide power from battery 132 to at least a portion of sensor suite148, and/or tampering sensor 140 according to a size, duration, time,and/or quantity of detected objects 124 a-b indicated by a detectionsignal, according to a time the detection signal is received, or anycombination thereof. For example, when a detection signal indicates thatan object has entered environment 108, entry unit electronics stack 128may be configured to provide power to a detection unit 144 as describedbelow, such that detection unit 144 is adequately powered to takemeasurements.

According to embodiments, providing power from a battery 132 to at leasta portion of sensor suite 148, entry unit electronics stack 128,tampering sensor 140, communication hub 172, repeater node 176, camera180, or any combination thereof may include generating a wake-up signal.For example, a wake-up signal may be generated when movement is detectedby movement sensor 120. A wake-up signal may comprise an analog ordigital signal configured to switch at least a portion of sensor suite148, entry unit electronics stack 128, tampering sensor 140,communication hub 172, repeater node 176, camera 180 from a sleep,low-power mode, and/or standby mode to an active or armed mode.

In embodiments, and continuing to refer to FIG. 1, entry unitelectronics stack 128 may be configured to monitor a power and/orbattery 132 level of battery 132 and generate a signal including datarepresenting the current power and/or battery 132 level of battery 132.Data representing a current power and/or battery 132 level of battery132 may represent current, historical, or projected power and/or battery132 level of battery 132 and may be expressed as a percentage, a value(such as in amp hours), graphically, or any combination thereof.According to embodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may beconfigured to compare data representing a current power and/or batterylevel of battery 132 to a predetermined low-battery threshold which maybe stored in entry unit electronics stack 128 or servers 112 a-c. Inembodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may be configured togenerate a low-battery alert when a current power and/or battery levelof battery 132 is equal to or less than a low-battery threshold value. Alow-battery alert may include a signal including representing thatbattery 132 is at low power and may be configured to be displayed on adisplay or user device. In embodiments, a low-battery alert may includea signal configured to induce a change in the color of a display such asan LED. For example, a low-battery alert may be configured to switch anLED from green to red.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, entry unitelectronics stack 128 may be configured to provide and/or transmit asignal including data representing current power and/or battery level ofbattery 132 to other devices and/or units in vaporized aerosol detectionsystem 100, and/or to one or more servers 112 a-c; such devices, units,and/or servers 112 a-c may be configured to compare data representingcurrent power and/or battery level of battery 132 to a predeterminedlow-battery threshold. In embodiments, devices, units, and/or servers112 a-c may be configured to generate a low-battery alert when a currentpower and/or battery level of battery 132 is equal to or less than alow-battery threshold value. According to embodiments, a user may set,adjust, cancel, or otherwise manipulate a low-battery threshold levelfrom a user device, whether the low-battery threshold is stored withinentry unit electronics stack 128 or remotely in additional devices,units, and/or servers 112 a-c.

According to embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 1, entryunit electronics stack 128 may include equipment configured to receivesignals generated from any disclosed or undisclosed sensor presentwithin vaporized aerosol detection system 100. Entry unit electronicsstack 128 may include analog and/or digital circuitry configured tocondition, analyze, and/or transform received signals. For example,entry unit electronics stack 128 may include a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a power microcontroller, a processor, ananalog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, logiccircuitry, or any combination thereof, to name a few.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, entry unitelectronics stack 128 may include equipment necessary for wirelesstransmission of electronic signals to other devices, units, and/orservers 112 a-c. For example, entry unit electronics stack 128 maycomprise a transceiver and can be configured to be communicativelycoupled to a server by a cellular phone network(s), wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), wireless personal area networks (WPAN), wireless widearea networks (WWAN), wireless sensor networks, satellite communicationnetworks, terrestrial microwave networks, Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee,low-power long range wide area network (LoRaWan and LoRa), internet,ethernet, a wireless ad-hoc network also known as a wireless meshnetwork, and/or any combination thereof. In embodiments, thesepredetermined threshold values may be stored within servers 112 a-c.

Further referring to FIG. 1, each of one or more servers 112 a-c mayinclude any computing device as described in this disclosure, includingwithout limitation a microcontroller, microprocessor, digital signalprocessor (DSP) and/or system on a chip (SoC) as described in thisdisclosure. Each of one or more servers 112 a-c may include, be includedin, and/or communicate with a user device such as a mobile telephone orsmartphone. Any server of one or more servers 112 a-c may include asingle computing device operating independently, or may include two ormore computing devices operating in concert, in parallel, sequentiallyor the like; two or more computing devices may be included together in asingle computing device or in two or more computing devices. Any serverof one or more servers 112 a-c may interface or communicate with one ormore additional devices as described below in further detail via anetwork interface device. Network interface devices may be utilized forconnecting a server to one or more of a variety of networks, and one ormore devices. Examples of a network interface device include, but arenot limited to, a network interface card (e.g., a mobile networkinterface card, a LAN card), a modem, and any combination thereof.Examples of a network include, but are not limited to, a wide areanetwork (e.g., the Internet, an enterprise network), a local areanetwork (e.g., a network associated with an office, a building, a campusor other relatively small geographic space), a telephone network, a datanetwork associated with a telephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobilecommunications provider data and/or voice network), a direct connectionbetween two computing devices, and any combinations thereof. A networkmay employ a wired and/or a wireless mode of communication. In general,any network topology may be used. Information (e.g., data, softwareetc.) may be communicated to and/or from a computer and/or a computingdevice. Any server of one or more servers 112 a-c may include but is notlimited to, for example, a computing device or cluster of computingdevices in a first location and a second computing device or cluster ofcomputing devices in a second location. Any server of one or moreservers 112 a-c may include one or more computing devices dedicated todata storage, security, distribution of traffic for load balancing, andthe like. Any server of one or more servers 112 a-c may distribute oneor more computing tasks as described below across a plurality ofcomputing devices, which may operate in parallel, in series,redundantly, or in any other manner used for distribution of tasks ormemory between computing devices. Any server of one or more servers 112a-c may be implemented using a “shared nothing” architecture in whichdata is cached at the worker, in an embodiment, this may enablescalability of system 100 and/or computing device.

Still referring to FIG. 1, any device, unit, and/or server described inthis disclosure may be designed and/or configured to perform any method,method step, or sequence of method steps in any embodiment described inthis disclosure, in any order and with any degree of repetition. Forinstance, any device, unit, and/or server may be configured to perform asingle step or sequence repeatedly until a desired or commanded outcomeis achieved; repetition of a step or a sequence of steps may beperformed iteratively and/or recursively using outputs of previousrepetitions as inputs to subsequent repetitions, aggregating inputsand/or outputs of repetitions to produce an aggregate result, reductionor decrement of one or more variables such as global variables, and/ordivision of a larger processing task into a set of iteratively addressedsmaller processing tasks. Any device may perform any step or sequence ofsteps as described in this disclosure in parallel, such assimultaneously and/or substantially simultaneously performing a step twoor more times using two or more parallel threads, processor cores, orthe like; division of tasks between parallel threads and/or processesmay be performed according to any protocol suitable for division oftasks between iterations. Persons skilled in the art, upon reviewing theentirety of this disclosure, will be aware of various ways in whichsteps, sequences of steps, processing tasks, and/or data may besubdivided, shared, or otherwise dealt with using iteration, recursion,and/or parallel processing.

Still referring to FIG. 1, entry unit 116 includes an entry unit housing136 configured to enclose at least a portion of the trigger sensor, suchas motion sensor 120. A housing may have a shape having a number ofsides or faces which each side comprising opposite, opposing surfaceswith a thickness between them. According to embodiments, a first surfaceof a side may form a portion of an outer wall of housing and a second,opposing and opposite surface of the side can form a portion of an innerwall of housing. For example, a housing may include a hollowthree-dimensional prism with an outer mold line with a thickness. Inembodiments, a housing may be one continuous shape or may bemechanically fastened smaller individual pieces configured to encase orenclose at least a portion of motion sensor 120, a tampering sensor 140,entry unit electronics stack 128, battery 132, or any combinationthereof.

According to embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 1, ahousing may be configured to snap together non-permanently such thathousing may be pulled apart by a user for allowed access to interiorcomponents. A housing may comprise injection molded plastics likehigh-density polyethylene (HDPE) or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS), stamped or otherwise machined metal like aluminum, steel alloys,tin, or other alloys. A housing may comprise a back plate which can bepermanently or temporarily mechanically fastened to a cover throughscrews, nails, snap connectors, epoxy, glue, double-sided tape, rivets,or another undisclosed method alone or in combination. In embodiments, ahousing may, in a hollow space within, enclose or encase at least aportion of motion sensor 120, sensor suite 148 (including particlesensor 152, chemical sensor 156, temperature sensor 160, humidity sensor164, or any combination thereof), alarm, battery 132, entry unitelectronics stack 128, tampering sensor 140 or a portion of any whichmay allow its optimal operation.

In an embodiment, and continuing to refer to FIG. 1, entry unit 116 mayalso include a tampering sensor 140. Tampering sensor 140 may includeone or more sensors disposed within or on housing and may be configuredto detect a tampering event. A tampering event may include someonebreaking open entry unit 116, someone moving entry unit 116, someonetouching entry unit 116, someone hitting entry unit 116, someone shakingentry unit 116, someone disconnecting entry unit 116, or any combinationthereof. According to embodiments, tampering sensor 140 may beconfigured to detect a tampering event by detecting that an object is inclose proximity to entry unit 116, movement of entry unit 116, integrityof housing, or any combination thereof. For example, tampering sensor140 may comprise one or more sensors configured to detect a tamperingevent when a person is attempting to move or break open entry unit 116.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, tamperingsensor 140 may be configured to generate a tamper alarm when a tamperingevent is detected. A tamper alarm may include an electronic signalconfigured to induce an audible alert, a visual alert, a tactile alert,and/or any alert sufficient to alert that a tamper event occurred fromthe alarm. In other embodiments, tampering sensor 140 may generatesignals including data representing that an object is in close proximityto entry unit 116, movement of entry unit 116, integrity of housing, orany combination thereof. Tampering sensor 140 may be electronicallyand/or communicatively coupled to entry unit electronics stack 128 andconfigured to provide said signals to entry unit electronics stack 128.In embodiments, entry unit electronics stack 128 may be configured todetect that a tampering event has occurred based upon received signalsincluding data representing that an object is in close proximity toentry unit 116, movement of entry unit 116, integrity of housing, or anycombination thereof. Entry unit electronics stack 128 may be configuredto generate a tamper alarm when a tampering event has occurred. A usermay enable, disable, or otherwise manipulate the tamper alarm from auser device and/or server. Tamper alarm may also be disabled through,for example, an interlock such as a magnetic switch disposed in or onhousing, which may be engaged, for example, by a magnetic key fob heldby a potential maintainer or user. Tamper alarm may include and/ortrigger an audible alarm, which may include any audio output device suchas without limitation speakers or the like. An audible alarm may providea local alarm to warn occupants and nearby staff that tampering has beendetected. An alarm may include an auditory alarm or signaling device(such as a buzzer, siren, horn, etc.), a visual alarm or signalingdevice (such as an LED, strobe light, laser, LED screen, LCD screen,etc.), tactile alarm or signalizing device (such as a vibration alarm,motor, etc.), or any combination thereof. Activating an alarm mayinclude sending an electronic signal to the alarm to induce an audiblealert (such as, for example, a chime, chirp, siren, beep, or otherwiseartificial noise), a visual alert (such as, for example, flashinglights, a display, a strobe, color lights, etc.), a tactile alert (suchas vibration, shaking, etc.), and/or any alert sufficient to alert thata detection event has occurred in environment 108. A user may adjustalarm volume, alarm sound, alarm light display, and disable alarmthrough user device and/or server.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, entry unit 116 may have a pollingmode. In the polling mode, entry unit 116 may be configured toperiodically perform a polling cycle which can include powering on for apredetermined amount of time, checking for a triggering event such asmotion, predetermined detection of a substance, a tampering event, etc.,and powering off/entering a sleep or standby mode. In embodiments, thepredetermined amount of time an entry unit is powered on during apolling cycle can include seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, or anycombination thereof. According to embodiments, a polling cycle can beperformed periodically at predetermined intervals which can include apredetermined amount of time such as seconds, minutes, hours, days, daysof the week, dates, weeks, or any combination thereof. In embodiments, apolling cycle may further comprise transmitting any detected triggering,detection, or tampering events to servers 112 a-c. According toembodiments, a polling cycle can comprise evaluating a communicativeconnection between entry unit 116 and one or elements of aerosolizedsubstance detection system 100 (such as, for example, detection unit144, communication hub 172, repeater node 176, and/or servers 112 a-c).Evaluating a communicative connection can comprise evaluating a numberof packets sent from and received by entry unit 116, locating IPaddresses, receiving/transmitting authentication signals, or anycombination thereof. In embodiments, entry unit 116 can determine that acommunicative connection between entry unit 116 and one or elements ofaerosolized substance detection system 100 has failed, such as, forexample, when entry unit 116 is offline or a local network has gonedown. When entry unit 116 has determined that a communicative connectionhas failed, entry unit 116 may be configured to determine a faileddetection signal. The failed detection signal can comprise a signalconfigured to indicate that entry unit 116 is offline and can include analert, switching the color of an LED, inducing an audible alarm, or anycombination thereof—to name a few. In embodiments, entry unit 116 may beconfigured to transmit data to communication hub 172 and/or servers 112a-c during a polling cycle such as data representing detected triggeringevents, battery levels, device health, diagnostic information, or anycombination thereof. According to embodiments, entry unit 116 may beconfigured to receive data from communication hub 172 and/or servers 112a-c during a polling cycle such as alerts, firmware updates, softwareupdates, threshold values, or any combination thereof.

According to embodiments, polling cycles for entry unit 116 can bedetermined by a watchdog timer. A watchdog timer can comprise hardwareand/or software and a power source configured to perform a polling cycleat predetermined intervals of time (such as every 12 or 14 hours) anddictate the predetermined length or time of the polling cycles (such asfor 1-2 hours). In embodiments, a watchdog timer may operate a dutycycle in which entry unit 116 is powered off, except for the watchdogtimer, for some proportion of a period, and powers on briefly to checkfor motion; duty cycle may, for instance, switch on entry unit 116and/or motion sensor 120 for 200 ms every second or the like. Inembodiments, polling cycles for entry unit 116 can be determined by aclock timer. A clock timer can comprise software and/or hardware such asa processor, microprocessor, microcontroller, quartz crystal, powersource, and/or memory and can be configured to perform a polling cycleat predetermined, variable intervals of time (such as every 4 or 10hours) and dictate the predetermined, variable length or time of thepolling cycles (such as for 1-2 hours). In embodiments, thepredetermined, variable intervals of time and length or time can bevaried or set by servers 112 a-c or a user device.

Entry unit 116 may have a scanning mode, in which the entry unit 116 isconfigured to communicate with a detection unit 144. Entry unit 116 maybe configured to enter the scanning mode when a triggering event isdetected such as when the motion sensor 120 detects motion; entry unit116 may remain in scanning mode until a cessation of the triggeringevent such as when motion is detected and/or until a scan for particlesas described below has completed. A timer such as a watchdog timer orthe like may count down from initiation of scanning mode, a latestdetected motion, or the like, where count-down to zero may causetransition into polling mode, and count-down may be reset upon detectionof motion, particles, or the like. Transitions between modes may begoverned by a processor, finite state machine, or the like.

According to embodiments any element of aerosolized substance detectionsystem 100 (such as detection unit 144, communication hub 172, camera180, etc.) may have a polling mode similar or the same as entry unit116.

Still referring to FIG. 1, aerosolized substance detection system 100includes a detection unit 144 communicatively connected to the entryunit 116. As used herein, “communicative connecting” is a processwhereby one device, component, or circuit is able to receive data fromand/or transmit data to another device, component, or circuit. In anembodiment, communicative connecting includes electrically coupling atleast an output of one device, component, or circuit to at least aninput of another device, component, or circuit. Communicative connectionmay be wired, wireless, effected using magnetic and/or opticalcouplings, or the like; communicative connection may be performedaccording to any process and/or protocol for communication betweendevices and/or units as described in this disclosure. Detection unit 144may include a particle sensor 152 configured to detect a particle countof the environment 108 in response to the generation of the detectionsignal. In embodiments, detection unit 144 is disposed a differentlocation from entry unit 116 within environment 108.

In embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 1, detection unit 144may include a sensor suite 148. When power is provided to sensor suite148 from a battery 132, sensor suite 148 may be configured to detectsubstances 104 in or proximate to detection unit's 144 location withinenvironment 108. Substances 104 may include one or more substances 104,gases, and/or particles that have been aerosolized in at least a portionof environment 108. For example, substances 104 may include chemicalparticles from a nicotine vaping device, a cannabinoid vaping device, atetrahydrocannabinol vaping device, a chemical spill (such as dimethylsulfate, toluene diisocyanate), hazardous gas clouds (such as arsine,dimethyl sulfate, toluene, hydrogen azide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogendioxide), animal excrement (such as ammonia), tobacco smoke, carbondioxide, carbon monoxide, methamphetamine, fentanyl, anhydrous ammonia,or any combination thereof, to name a few. Sensor suite 148 may beconfigured to detect a quantity (i.e. particle count), density, size,structure, and/or dispersion of substances 104 and may include aparticle sensor 152, a chemical sensor 156, a temperature sensor 160, ahumidity sensor 164, or any combination thereof. In embodiments, sensorsuite 148 may be electronically and/or communicatively coupled to adetection unit 144 electronics stack, which may be implemented in anymanner suitable for entry unit electronics stack as described above.Communicative coupling may comprise a connection sufficient to transferdata back and forth between sensor suite 148 and detection unit 144electronics stack. Communicative coupling may be a wired or wirelessconnection that may employ electronic buses, ethernet, internet, WiFi,Bluetooth, cellular network, or another undisclosed method alone or incombination. Additionally, or alternatively, detection unit 144 and/orsensor suite 148 may be communicatively coupled to at least a server.This communicative coupling, as disclosed, is a connection sufficientfor transferring data between sensor suite 148 and at least a server andcan include WiFi, ethernet, cellular networks, Bluetooth, NB-IoT, LTECAT1, LTE-M1, CAT NB1, long-range (LoRa) communication connects, or anycombination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, sensor suite 148 caninclude a GPS unit configured to determine the location, coordinates,room, and/or area of a detection unit 144 within environment 108.

In an embodiment, and still referring to FIG. 1, sensor suite 148 mayinclude particle sensor 152. Particle sensor 152 may include one or moresensors that are configured to detect a quantity (i.e. particle count),size, structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof, of substances104. In embodiments, particle sensor 152 may be configured todifferentiate ambient particles present in environment 108 to substances104 of interest that may trigger an alert within the system. Forexample, particle sensor 152 may be configured to compare a historicalreading of particles in environment 108 to a detection of substances 104to determine what particles within substances 104 are ambient inenvironment 108 and which particles may be substances 104 of interest.According to embodiments, particle sensor 152 may be configured tomeasure or otherwise detect the quantity (i.e. particle count), size,structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof, of particles presentin substances 104 and may be configured to translate those readings intoelectronic signals. According to embodiments, particle sensor 152 may beelectronically and/or communicatively coupled to detection unit 144electronics stack and may be configured to send signals including datarepresenting the quantity (i.e. particle count), size, structure,dispersion, or any combination thereof, of particles present insubstances 104 to detection unit 144 electronics stack.

In embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 1, sensor suite 148may include chemical sensor 156. Chemical sensor 156 may include one ormore sensors configured to detect a structure, size, shape, and/orcomposition of particles in order to determine chemical composition ofsubstances 104 in environment 108. Chemical sensor 156 may include aprinted electrochemical sensor 156, Complementary Metal OxideSemiconductor (CMOS) circuit, metal oxide, nanotube, micro cantilever,micro hot plates, mobility spectrometer (ion or differential), massspectrometer, infrared spectrometer, or any combination thereof, to namea few examples. In embodiments, chemical sensor 156 may be configured todifferentiate ambient chemicals present in environment 108 to chemicalsof interest that may trigger an alert within the system. For example,chemical sensor 156 may be configured to detect a plurality of chemicalsand/or gaseous or aerosolized particles, some of which may includenicotine, cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, particles from achemical spill (such as dimethyl sulfate, toluene diisocyanate),particles in hazardous gas clouds (such as arsine, hydrogen azide,hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide), particles from animal excrement(such as ammonia), tobacco smoke, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide,sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, respiratory irritants,indicators of indoor air quality, or any combination thereof. Chemicalsensor 156 may translate readings it collects to an electronic signalincluding data representing the structure, size, shape, and/orcomposition of particles. In embodiments, chemical sensor 156 may beelectronically and/or communicatively connected and/or coupled todetection unit 144 electronics stack and may be configured to send thesignals including data representing the structure, size, shape, and/orcomposition of particles to detection unit 144 electronics stack.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, sensor suite148 may include temperature sensor 160. Temperature sensor 160 mayinclude one or more sensors configured to determine a temperature ofenvironment 108. Temperature, for the purposes of this disclosure, is anamount of heat energy present in environment 108. One of ordinary skillin the art would appreciate that temperature is truly the amount ofkinetic energy present in an environment 108 on the atomic level, andfor the purposes of this disclosure, temperature as it affectselectronics, humans, objects 124 a-b, and/or gaseous elements may bemeasured in Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin and/or the like. According toembodiments, temperature sensor 160 may determine a temperature ofenvironment 108 to help assess the dispersion, density, and/orcomposition of substances 104 in environment 108. Additionally,temperature sensor 160 may determine the temperature of environment 108to assess the health of electronics and sensors present within vaporizedaerosol detection system 100. In embodiments, temperature sensor 160 maybe configured to generate a signal including data representing adetected temperature of environment 108 and provide this signal todetection unit 144 electronics stack, at least a first server, any otherdevice and/or unit in system 100, or any combination thereof. Inembodiments, this signal may also include data alerting a user of achange in temperature of environment 108 over or under certainthresholds or to alert a user of aerosolized particles evidenced by achange in temperature. According to embodiments, temperature sensor 160may translate readings it collects into electronic signals includingdata representing the detected temperatures. Temperature sensor 160 maybe electronically and/or communicatively connected and/or coupled todetection unit 144 electronics stack and may be configured to providesuch signals to detection unit 144 electronics stack.

In embodiments, and further referring to FIG. 1, sensor suite 148 mayinclude humidity sensor 164. Humidity sensor 164 may include one or moresensors configured to determine an amount of humidity present inenvironment 108. Humidity, for the purposes of this disclosure, is aquantity of vaporized water in a gaseous area, in this case air ofenvironment 108. Humidity sensor 164 may be further configured tomeasure humidity in one of three general methods: absolute, relative,and specific. Absolute humidity describes the water content of air andis expressed in either grams per cubic meter or grams per kilogram.Relative humidity may be expressed as a percentage and indicate apresent state of absolute humidity relative to a maximum humidity giventhe same temperature (as determined by temperature sensor 160). Specifichumidity is the ratio of water vapor mass to total moist air parcelmass. Humidity sensor 164 may be configured to determine humidity ofenvironment 108 in order to detect a change in air density, which may bedue to the presence of substances 104. Humidity sensor 164 mayadditionally or alternatively be configured to determine humidity ofenvironment 108 in order to ascertain the optimal range of humidity forthe complement of other sensors present in sensor suite 148, in anembodiment. Humidity sensor 164 may translate readings it collects intoelectronic signals including data representing the humidity inenvironment 108. In embodiments, humidity sensor 164 may beelectronically and/or communicatively connected and/or coupled todetection unit 144 electronics stack and may be configured to providesuch signals to detection unit 144 electronics stack.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, detection unit 144 may include adetection unit housing 168 configured to enclose at least a portion ofthe particle sensor 152. Detection unit housing 168 may be implementedin any manner suitable for entry unit housing 136. Detection unithousing 168 may include cut-throughs and openings where a sensor mayneed access to an air sample of environment 108 or where a vaporizedaerosol may enter housing to reach any internal component. Detectionunit 144 may include a tampering sensor, which may include any componentsuitable for use as entry unit 116 tampering sensor 140 above, includingwithout limitation a piezo-electric vibration sensor used to measureunexpected vibrations in the device related to device tampering, aconductivity sensor triggered where conductivity is altered byalterations to housing, and/or an accelerometer or the like fordetection of movement of housing and/or components thereof. In someembodiments, detection unit housing 168 housing can be configured to behandheld and/or portable while in other embodiments detection unithousing 168 can be configured to be stationary, such as whenaffixed/coupled to a surface.

Further referring to FIG. 1, at least one of entry unit housing 136 anddetection unit housing 168 may include venting openings. Detection unithousing 168 may be configured to be disposed inline in an aircirculation system such as without limitation a duct, vent, or the like.Aerosolized substance detection system 100 may include an alarmconfigured to produce an alert in response to the detected particlecount; alarm may be in a self-contained unit, which may include anyelements and/or components of a unit as described in this disclosure, ormay be incorporated in and/or communicatively connected to any unit asdescribed in this disclosure, including without limitation entry unit116, detection unit 144, communication hub 172, a mobile device, and/ora repeater. Aerosolized substance detection system 100 temperaturesensor 160, which may be configured to detect a temperature ofenvironment 108 in response to generation of a detection signal.

Still referring to FIG. 1, detection unit 144 may include any battery132, energy storage device, and/or energy source suitable for use withentry unit 116. Detection unit 144 may include an audible alarm, whichmay include any alarm suitable for use with entry unit 116; audiblealarm may provide local alarm to warn occupants and nearby staff that adetection event or tampering was detected. Detection unit 144electronics stack may also be configured to calibrate and/or trim anyand all sensors that may be present within aerosolized substancedetection system 100 and/or coupled to the system remotely. Calibrationof sensors and systems may comprise zeroing a sensor after a reading,power cycle, malfunction, or the like.

Further referring to FIG. 1, detection unit 144 may be configured todetect a detection event as a function of the particle count. Detectionunit 144 may be configured to detect the detection event as a functionof comparing the particle count to a predetermined threshold. As anon-limiting example, in embodiments, detection unit 144 electronicsstack may be configured to determine if substances of interest 104 arepresent. Substances of interest 104 may include any particles that maybe a cause of concern for environment 108. For example, substances ofinterest 104 may include substances that are disallowed in environment108 (such as nicotine, cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, tobaccosmoke, etc.), substances that are hazardous (carbon monoxide, carbondioxide, arsine, hydrogen azide, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide,viruses, bacteria, pathogens, etc.), undesirable substances forenvironment 108 (tobacco smoke, nicotine, cannabinoids,tetrahydrocannabinoids, ammonia from pet excrement, dust, pollen, mold,etc.), or any combination thereof, to name a few. According toembodiments, determining whether substances of interest 104 are presentin environment 108 may include comparing levels of signals received fromsensor suite 148 to various, predetermined threshold values. Forexample, detection unit 144 electronics stack may be configured toreceive a signal including data representing a detected structure, size,shape, and/or composition of substances 104 and compare one or morelevels included in this signal to predetermined threshold values inorder to determine what chemicals (i.e. types of particles) are presentin substances 104. According to embodiments, a user may set, adjust,cancel, or otherwise manipulate threshold levels from a user device,whether those thresholds are stored within detection unit 144electronics stack or remotely in servers 112 a-c.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, predeterminedthreshold values may include a level or measure of a detected structure,size, shape, and/or composition of substances 104. According toembodiments, these predetermined threshold values may be stored in amemory such as a memory of detection unit 144 electronics stack.

In embodiments, and continuing to refer to FIG. 1, detection unit 144electronics stack and/or servers 112 a-c may be configured to determineif a detection event has occurred within or proximate to detectionunit's 144 location within environment 108. A detection event, for thepurposes of this disclosure is the detection of substances 104,particles, or chemicals of interest in substances 104 within environment108. For example, a detection event may indicate that a nicotinevaporizer device has been used in environment 108, a chemical spill hasoccurred in environment 108, smoke is present in environment 108, animalexcrement is present in environment 108, or any combination thereof, toname a few examples. According to embodiments, a detection event mayfurther indicate that a quantity, particle density, and/or dispersion ofsubstances 104 of interest within environment 108 have exceeded apredetermined threshold. For example, a detection event may indicatethat the particle density of aerosolized vape has exceeded a thresholdvalue in environment 108.

In embodiments, these predetermined threshold values may include a levelor measure of a particle density, dispersion, and/or composition ofparticles that are disallowed, hazardous, or otherwise undesired inenvironment 108. According to embodiments, these predetermined thresholdvalues can be stored in a memory such as a memory of detection unit 144or in a respective electronics stack.

According to embodiments, detection unit 144 electronics stack may beconfigured to trigger an alert based on a detection event by detectionunit 144 electronics stack or servers 112 a-c. In embodiments, whendetection unit 144 electronics stack and/or servers 112 a-c havedetected that a detection event has occurred, detection unit 144electronics stack may then generate an alert signal and/or provide powerto alarm from battery 132. The alert signal may comprise an electricalsignal configured to activate the alarm. In embodiments, the alert cancomprise data representing measurements taken during the detection eventand may be transmitted to communication hub 172 and/or servers 112 a-c.

Still referring to FIG. 1, detection unit 144 may have a low-power mode.When in low-power mode, detection unit 144 may be configured toperiodically power on, check for communication from entry unit 116, andpower off. Low power mode may operate at a duty cycle or clock timer,governed by a timer such as a watchdog timer; this may be implemented inany manner suitable for implementation of polling mode for entry unit116. During a duty cycle of a low-power mode, a detection device maycheck for a signal transmitted from entry unit 116; that is, detectiondevice may check whether entry unit 116 has entered scanning mode asdescribed above. Detection unit 144 may have a detection mode, in whichthe detection unit 144 is configured to detect a particle count usingparticle sensor 152. Detection unit 144 may be configured to enterdetection mode upon receiving a communication from entry unit 116.

Still referring to FIG. 1, aerosolized substance detection system 100may include a communication hub 172 communicatively connected, asdefined above, to entry unit 116 and detection unit 144, wherein thecommunication hub 172 is communicatively connected to at least a server.Communicative connection to one device may be affected via anotherdevice; in other words, connection to any one device may function as aconnection to all devices in system 100. Communication hub 172 mayinclude an electronics stack, which may include any components suitablefor use in entry unit electronics stack 128. Communication hub 172 mayinclude a housing, which may include any housing suitable for use asentry unit housing 136. Communication hub 172 may include a tamperingsensor 140, which may include any device suitable for use as an entryunit 116 tampering sensor 140 and/or detection unit 144 tampering sensor140.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, communication hub 172 may beconfigured to detect a detection event as a function of a particlecount; detection may be implemented, without limitation, according toany process described above for detection of detection events. Forinstance, and without limitation, communication hub 172 may be furtherconfigured to detect a detection event as a function of comparing aparticle count to a predetermined threshold, for instance as describedabove. At least a server may be configured to detect a detection eventas a function of a particle count; detection may be implemented, withoutlimitation, according to any process described above for detection ofdetection events. For instance, and without limitation, at least aserver may be configured to detect a detection event as a function ofcomparing a particle count to a predetermined threshold, for instance asdescribed above. Communication hub 172 may be a separate unit from otherunits in vaporized aerosol detection system 100; alternatively oradditionally, any unit of an aerosolized substance detection system 100described in this disclosure may function as communication hub 172; forinstance, communication hub 172 may be, include, and/or be included inat least one of entry unit 116 and detector unit. In an embodiment,operations that require more power, such as communication to a cloudand/or at least a server, may be relegated to the communication hub 172,which may be powered directly via Power over Ethernet (PoE), AC power,or the like.

In embodiments, and further referring to FIG. 1, processing of signalsto determine detection events may be additionally or alternativelyhandled by remotely located servers 112 a-c. According to embodiments,servers 112 a-c may be configured to determine what particles arepresent in environment 108 and whether a detection event has occurred bycomparing levels of signals received from a respective electronics stackto various, predetermined threshold values. For example, servers 112 a-cmay be configured to receive a signal including data representing adetected structure, size, shape, and/or composition of substances 104and compare one or more levels included in this signal to predeterminedthreshold values in order to determine what chemicals (i.e. types ofparticles) are present in substances 104.

Still referring to FIG. 1, an aerosolized substance detection system 100may include a repeater node 176. Repeater node 176 may include anysignal reception and/or transmission elements suitable for use withcommunication hub 172, entry unit 116, and/or detection unit 144,incorporated in and/or connected to any electronics stack suitable forsuch units and/or elements; for instance, an electronics stack ofrepeater node 176 may provide Bluetooth, cellular, and/or WiFicommunication to and from the other nodes and/or units and/or thecommunication hub 172. Repeater node 176 may be battery operated, wired,and/or powered via Power over Ethernet depending on configuration ofapplication environment 108. Repeater node 176 may include a housing,which may be implemented in any way described above for a housing of anentry unit 116. Repeater node 176 may include a tampering sensor 140 towarn monitoring personnel if the device is disturbed; tampering samplemay be implemented as described above for a tampering sensor 140 ofentry unit 116. Repeater node 176 may be configured to receive a signalfrom at least one of the entry unit 116 and the detection unit 144 andtransmit the signal to communication hub 172.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, aerosolized substance detectionsystem 100 may include at least a camera 180 communicatively connectedto the entry unit 116 and the detection unit 144. For instance, andwithout limitation, data captured using sensor suite 148 and/or othercomponents may be combined with video or still camera 180 to providephotographs of occupants exiting an area after an alert occurs orentering an area before an alert occurs. Alert metadata may be used asinput to a video/photo analysis package to select corresponding videofootage or photos from a camera 180 storage system in a cloud or oncommunication hub 172 and/or a local server. If video is stored, footagemay be converted to still photos. Video and/or still photos may becropped to focus on faces of occupants; camera 180 information may betransmitted to an application on an electronic device. Alternatively,analyzed camera 180 footage stored on a local server may be transmittedto an application on an electronic device. Transmission may be performedin the form of a text or email, and/or may be transmitted to a softwareapplication located on an electronic device. Alternatively, facialphotos/video footage may be categorized via facial recognition softwareanalysis to identify occupants from an area by comparing camera 180information to organizational identification databases. Alternatively,occupant faces may be tagged anonymously and/or sorted according tofrequency of appearance. Processed footage transmission may be delayedor real-time.

According to embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 1, camera 180 maybe communicatively connected to a respective electronics stack and/orservers 112 a-c. Camera 180 may include, for example, video camera 180,still camera 180, SLR camera 180, DSLR camera 180, closed circuitnetworks, or any combination thereof, to name a few. Camera 180 may beincorporated in and/or attached to an electronics stack of any elementand/or unit of vaporized aerosol detection system 100. In embodiments,an electronics stack connected to at least a camera 180 may beconfigured to provide power from a battery 132 to a camera 180 when adetection event is detected. In response to being provided power and/orwhen a detection event is detected, a camera 180 may be configured tocapture one or more images of environment 108, such as photographsand/or video footage of environment 108. In embodiments, camera 180 maybe part of an external system to aerosolized detection system 100.

In embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 1, captured videosand/or photographs (i.e. images) may be provided to a respectiveelectronics stack and/or servers 112 a-c. According to embodiments,units and/or servers 112 a-c may each, or in combination, be configuredto analyze, process, and compress the captured video and/or photographs.For example, a respective electronics stack and/or servers 112 a-c caninclude facial recognition software configured to identify personspresent in the captured videos and/or photographs. Further, a respectiveelectronics stack and/or servers 112 a-c can be communicatively coupledwith an organizational identification database for the purposes offacial recognition. In embodiments, analyzing the captured video and/orphotographs may occur in real-time or may be delayed.

With reference to FIG. 2A, an isometric view of a detection unit 200 asdescribed above, is illustrated, according to embodiments. Detectionunit 200 may include motion sensor 216, sensor suite 240 (includingparticle sensor 220, chemical sensor 224, temperature sensor (not shownfor clarity), humidity sensor (not shown for clarity), or anycombination thereof), alarm 232, battery 228, electronics stack 236,tampering sensor (not shown for clarity), similar or the same ascomponents hereinbefore described with reference to FIG. 1.

In embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 2, device housing 204,similar or the same as detection unit housing 168, may be configured toenclose at least a portion of motion sensor 216, sensor suite 240(including particle sensor 220, chemical sensor 224, temperature sensor(not shown for clarity), humidity sensor (not shown for clarity), or anycombination thereof), alarm 232, battery 228, electronics stack 236,tampering sensor, and has a shape with at least one set of opposite,opposing surfaces. The shape of housing 204 may include anythree-dimensional shape having one or more faces. In embodiments, theshape of housing 204 may be hollow, allowing housing 204 to enclose atleast a portion of motion sensor 216, sensor suite 240 (includingparticle sensor 220, chemical sensor 224, temperature sensor, humiditysensor, or any combination thereof), alarm 232, battery 228, electronicsstack 236, and/or tampering sensor. For example, in the illustratedembodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, housing 204 may have a shape of arectangular prism or a hollow box. According to embodiments, each faceof the shape of housing 204 forms a respective wall of housing 204. Awall may include a piece of material having opposite, opposing surfaces(e.g. an inner surface and an outer surface) with a thickness betweenthem.

According to embodiments, and further referring to FIG. 2, a wall ofhousing 204 may include venting 208 which may allow for air to travelwithin housing 204. Venting 208 may be accomplished by any number orcombination of methods including, but not limited to slotting, screens,perforations, cutouts, pass throughs, milled holes, or injection-moldedopenings, to name a few. By allowing air to travel within housing 204,vaporized aerosol containing chemical particles may be provided to thesensors enclosed with housing 204 for sampling. Venting 208 may bedisposed on any or all walls of housing 204 to allow for directedairflow.

In embodiments, and still referring to FIG. 2, housing may be configuredto enclose or encase one or more fans. Each fan may be disposed withinhousing such that the fan is configured to draw air into venting 208and/or push air out of venting 208. In embodiments, fans enclosed withinhousing may be configured to create a positive or negative pressurewithin housing such that air is pulled into and/or forced out of venting208. According to embodiments, creating a negative or positive pressurewithin device housing may allow for air to travel within housing so thatit may be sampled by the sensors enclosed within housing 204. Inembodiments, power may be provided to the fans from battery 132.

According to embodiments, and continuing to refer to FIG. 2, housing 204may comprise a flapper that allows air to pass through venting 208 suchas during sampling but does not allow high pressure bursts of air toenter the system. In other words, flapper may be configured to allow alow flow sampling (such as, for example <1 m/s airflow) while preventinghigher flow rates or bursts (such as, for example, >1 m/s airflow). Aflapper may be disposed near venting 208 and configured so that a suddenburst of air may force the flapper closed over at least a portion ofventing 208 in order to protect the components enclosed within housing204 from damage. A flapper may be made of mylar, aluminum, variousplastics, or another undisclosed combination of lightweight materials. Aclosure of a flapper may be communicated wirelessly or through a wiredconnection to a respective electronics stack and/or servers 112 a-c forthe purpose of notifying a user that sampling is taking place or thepossibility that tampering was detected, for example. A flapper, inembodiments may have an electrical connection-type sensor that candetermine if the flapper is closed by the presence of a completedcircuit within the sensor, this is merely an example as any contactsensor or grouping of sensors may accomplish this task.

For example, and with continued reference to FIG. 2, air may enterhousing 204 and travel over an enclosed particle sensor 216 and chemicalsensor 220 laminarly so that particle sensor 216 and chemical sensor 220may sample the air. Laminar flow may be defined as non-turbulent flowwith smooth streamlines and little to no mixing of layers of flowingparticles. According to embodiments, an arrangement of particle sensor220, chemical sensor 224, and/or any other sensors that may be presentalone or in combination fully and/or partially enclosed within housing204 may be sequential such that airflow is sampled by sensors in theorder in which the sensors are reached by the airflow.

According to embodiments, and further referring to FIG. 2, housing 204may include mounting hardware 212 for mounting detection unit 144 in aplurality of orientations and/or in a plurality of locations. Mountinghardware 212 may include threaded holes, clearance holes, hooks, slots,or other hardware interfaces that may accept or interact with standardhardware for mounting in a plurality of arrangements and orientations.In the exemplary embodiment FIG. 2A mounting hardware 212 may bearranged for mounting on a wall of a room. This is only an example andone of ordinary skill in the art would understand mounting hardware 212may take another form for mounting the device on a ceiling or in avehicle. Configuration of housing of entry unit 116, communication hub172, repeater, and/or other elements of system 100 may be affectedsimilarly.

According to embodiments, and with further reference to FIG. 2, housing204 and enclosed components may also be configured in line with an airfiltration system, a vehicle air system, an HVAC system, an airconditioning system, or any system which passes air and/or gaseous fluidthrough it. In embodiments, detection unit 200 may be configured to beonly a subcomponent or process in a larger system such that it maydetect information about a detection event and convey that to a largersystem. These systems, both system 200 and the larger HVAC-type system,may be disposed in or on residential or commercial buildings, vehicleslike airplanes, cars, and/or trucks, or any combination thereof, to namea few. Housing 204 may also comprise a screen configured to providegeneral information about the system, warnings or alerts, and/orhealth-related information configurable by a user or as reflected bysensor data from system 100.

With reference to FIG. 2B an isometric cutaway view of detection unit144 from FIG. 2A is shown. The disposition of previously shown sensors216, 220, 224, may alternatively be found within or on the device aswell. In FIG. 2B electronics stack 236 is shown along with battery 228and alarm 232. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand thatthe arrangement of components within housing 204 are example embodimentsand in other embodiments may take different forms allowing for differentshaped housings, airflow directions, mounting arrangements, andenvironment 108 locations.

Referring again to FIG. 1, aerosolized substance detection system 100and/or any unit thereof, including without limitation entry unit 116,detection unit 144, communication hub 172, repeater node 176, or thelike may include a display such as, for example, a light-emitting diode(LED) display, liquid crystal display (LCD), electronic ink display,cathode ray tube (CRT) display, organic LED display, or any combinationthereof. According to embodiments, display may be configured to displayone or more alerts, measures and/or levels detected by sensor suit,battery 132 level (especially low battery 132), a temperature ofenvironment 108, a humidity of environment 108, general healthinformation, or any combination thereof.

In operation, entry unit 116, detection unit 144, repeater node 176, andthe communication hub 172, may be configured to enable communicationbetween any of entry unit 116, detection unit 144, repeater node 176,and the communication hub 172. This configuration may form a network ofsensors that may be distributed in a variety of configurations bestsuited to the detection application. Communication hub 172 may act as agateway for transmitting data to and from the cloud to nodes. Datatransmitted to the cloud may be delivered to electronic deviceapplications used to provide alerts, view data, system status includingbattery power, system maintenance messages, user access, orthresholding. Repeater node 176, where present, may receive andre-transmit data to other nodes. Alternatively, some node configurationfiles, such as firmware, may be transmitted directly to the devices fromthe cloud as required.

Still referring to FIG. 1, entry unit 116 may act as a primary triggerfor system 100. When a triggering event such as movement is detected,entry unit 116 may send a signal to detection unit 144 s and/or unitsdirectly or via communication hub 172 and/or repeater node 176 to wakeup sensors; detection unit 144 may then power on for some time andtransmit data to another element, such as without limitationcommunication hub 172, server, and/or the cloud. Signal may then betransmitted from the cloud to an electronic device for processing.Signal from sensors may be compared to thresholds set in any unit ofsystem 100, a server, and/or an application operating on a mobile devicein communication with system 100, and if the signal exceeds thethreshold an alert may be generated as a result. Thresholding algorithmmay be stored, in a non-limiting example, at nodes and/or units ofsystem 100 on firmware; in this case data processing may be donelocally. In the above-described version only alerts may be transmittedto the cloud then to servers 112 a-c, electronic device application,such as mobile device applications, or the like. Algorithms to determinealert states may also be more advanced to include smoothing, peakpicking, and/or second derivative calculations or machine learning totrain the sensors to an environment 108. Any unit of system 100, node ofsystem 100, server, and/or mobile device in communication therewith mayalso receive warnings when a battery 132 in system 100 requires chargingor if systems 100 is tampered with or disabled for any reason.

With further reference to FIG. 1, baselines and/or thresholds may becalculated and/or dynamically set as at any unit of system 100 asfollows. A timer such as a watchdog timer, as described above, may turnon entry unit 116, detection unit 144, and/or other elements of system100 at a configurable time to collect baseline data from sensors ofsensor suite 148 at a regular interval, such as each day; any suchelement or combination thereof may be powered on for a configurableperiod of time, which may as a non-limiting example fall between 10minutes and 60 minutes. A mean from data of each sensor, excludingzeros, and a standard deviation from the data of each sensor may then becalculated. A threshold may be established by adding a calculated meanvalue from each sensor to a calculated standard deviation of thatsensor. A confidence factor may be applied by multiplying a standarddeviation by a factor as well. Alternatively, a calculated mean valuemay be multiplied by a configurable variable then added to a calculatedstandard deviation to reduce influence of environment 108 noise. Aconfidence factor may be applied by multiplying standard deviation by afactor as well. In a non-limiting example, confidence factor may becalculated according to the following equation:Baseline Threshold=Particle Count_(Mean)+(Variable×σ)Alternative Baseline Threshold=(Variable×ParticleCount_(Mean))+(Variable×σ)A resulting value may be stored in the system until the next watchdogtimer event. In this embodiment for 24 hours, and/or until the nextconfigurable wakeup for baseline collection.

In an embodiment, detection unit 144 is a wearable monitoring system forvaping, cigarette smoke, fire, and/or indoor air quality (e.g. CO₂, CO,etc.). In this embodiment the detection unit 144 may be worn on a personand connected directly to an electronic device such as a mobile device,server, and/or communication hub 172 using any form of communicativeconnection, including via wireless connections such as WiFi, radar,ultrasonic, mesh, ZigBee, or Bluetooth and/or cellular connections suchas 4G, LTE, 5G, RF point-to-point, or ultra wideband radio or the likefor data transmission monitoring and alerting. In embodiments, wearabledetection unit 144 may be connected to the cloud via wireless orcellular connection then data is transmitted from the cloud via wirelessor cellular to an electronic device for monitoring and alerting. As afurther non-limiting example, detection unit 144 also may contain aRadio-frequency identification (RFID) tag that is read by an electronicdevice such as a mobile phone or a separate RFID receiver.Alternatively, detection unit 144 may contain a global positioningsystem (GPS) used to monitor a location of detection unit 144. Detectionunit 144, when deployed as a wearable device, may include any elementand/or component used in any unit of system 100 as described above.Wearable detection unit 144 may include, for instance, one or morevents, sensor suite 148, electronics stack 128, camera 180, or the like.Wearable detection unit 144 may perform preconfigured thresholdcomparisons between sensed substances 104 and a preconfigured thresholdto identify detection events. A wearable detection unit 144 can be usedas an environment 108 surveillance tool in an area such as an industrialbuilding or a school. A bar code, serial number, device name, QR code,or similar technology, may be used to register wearable detection unit144 to a person wearing the node and/or another system such as apersonnel database or time management system. Alerts generated fromdetection unit 144 are received at the electronic device and include,but are not limited to, wearable device metadata, which may include anymetadata as described above, the person registered with the detectionunit 144, and location.

FIGS. 3A and B illustrate example architectures 300 for vaporizedaerosol detection system 100, according to embodiments. Referring now toFIG. 3A, an example architecture 300 can include entry unit 316, thesame or similar as entry unit 116; repeater unit 376, the same orsimilar as repeater unit 176; detection units 344 a,b each the same orsimilar as detection unit 144; camera 380, the same or similar as camera180; communication hub 372, the same or similar as communication hub172, or any combination thereof. In embodiments, architecture 300 caninclude entry unit 316, repeater unit 376, detection units 344 a,b,camera 380, communication hub 372, or any combination thereof eachdisposed within environment 308 at two or more discrete locations withinenvironment 308, the same or similar as environment 108.

Still referring to FIG. 3A, in an embodiment, entry unit 316 may bedisposed at a first location within environment 308 and can beconfigured to detect when one or more objects enter environment 308. Inresponse to detecting an object has entered environment 308, entry unit316 may be configured to generate a detection signal and transmit thegenerated detection signal to communication hub 372 disposed at a secondlocation within environment 308. In embodiments, entry unit 316 maytransmit the detection signal to communication hub 372 via WiFi, a LAN,Bluetooth, ZigBee, ethernet, the internet, RF waves, near-fieldcommunication (NFC), or any combination thereof, to name a few.

In response to receiving a detection signal, communication hub 372 maybe configured to analyze, such as by an electronics stack, the detectionsignal by, for example, comparing the detection signal to apredetermined threshold value. In some embodiments, communication hub372 may transmit the detection signal to servers 312, the same orsimilar as servers 112 a-c, configured to analyze the detection signaland transmit the result of the analysis to communication hub 372.

Based upon the analysis, communication hub 372 may further be configuredto provide power to at least a portion of detection unit 344 a andcamera 380 disposed at a third location within environment 308 anddetection unit 344 b disposed at a fourth location within environment308. In embodiments, providing power to at least a portion of detectionunits 344 a,b and camera 380 can include transmitting one or moresignals to power management circuitry communicatively coupled todetection units 344 a,b and camera 380. In response, said powermanagement circuitry can be configured to power at least a portion ofdetection units 344 a,b and camera 380 from respective batteries coupledto detection units 344 a,b and camera 380. In embodiments, providingpower to at least a portion of detection units 344 a,b and camera 380can include switching each of detection units 344 a,b and camera 380from a sleep mode to an active or armed mode.

In embodiments, communication hub 372 can be configured to send andreceive one or more signals to detection unit 344 a and camera 380 viarepeater unit 376. Repeater unit 376 may act as an intermediary betweendetection 344 a/camera 380 and communication hub 372 such that repeaterunit 376 is configured to receive incoming signals from communicationhub 372, detection unit 344 a, and/or camera 380 and transmit theseincoming signals to communication hub 372, detection unit 344 a, and/orcamera 380.

According to embodiments, once at least a portion of detection units 344a,b are powered, they may be configured to measure one or more particlecounts proximate to their respective locations within environment 308.Further, detection units 344 a,b, may be configured to transmit thesemeasurements to communication hub 372.

In embodiments, once at least a portion of camera 380 is powered, camera380 may be configured to capture one or more pictures and/or videos ofan area within environment 308 proximate to the respective location ofcamera 380. Further, camera 380 may be configured to transmit thesepictures and/or video to communication hub 372.

In some embodiments, in response to receiving measures of one or moreparticle counts, communication hub 372 may be configured to determine ifa detection event occurred proximate either to the respective locationsof detection units 344 a,b. Communication hub 372 may, for example,determine if a detection event has occurred proximate to a respectivelocation by comparing a measure of a particle received from a detectionunit at the respective location to a predetermined threshold value. Inother embodiments, communication hub 372 may be configured to transmitany received measures of particle counts to servers 312. Servers 312 maybe configured to determine if a detection event occurred proximateeither to the respective locations of detection units 344 a,a. Servers312, may for example, determine if a detection event has occurredproximate to a respective location by comparing a measure of a particlereceived from a detection unit at the respective location to apredetermined threshold value.

When communication hub 372 and/or servers 312 have determined that adetection event has occurred, communication hub 372 and/or servers 312can be configured to generate an alarm signal. In embodiments, the alarmsignal can be transmitted to an alarm disposed near and/or proximate tothe detection unit 344 that took a measurement of a particle count. Thealarm signal can comprise a signal configured to induce an audible,visual, and/or tactile alert in said alarm.

According to other embodiments, the alarm signal can be transmitted toservers 312 and can comprise a signal representing the location wherethe detection event occurred, the time the detection event occurred,measurements taken by one or more detection units 344, a chemicalmake-up of the detection event, or any combination thereof. Servers 312may be configured to transmit the alarm signal to one or more userdevices 384 such that at least a portion of the information representedby the alarm signal is displayable on user device 382. User device 384can comprise a computer, a smartphone, a tablet, a processor, asmartwatch, or any combination thereof, to name a few.

In embodiments, user device 384 can be configured to generate andtransmit one or more threshold, activation, and/or deactivation signalsto servers 312 and/or communication hub 372. Threshold signals cancomprise signals configured to adjust, set, or modify a predeterminedthreshold used by entry unit 316, detection unit 344, camera 380,communication hub 372, or servers 312. Activation signals can comprisesignals configured to switch a respective entry unit 316, detection unit344, camera 380, and/or alarm to an active and/or on mode. Deactivationsignals can comprise signals configured to switch a respective entryunit 316, detection unit 344, camera 380, and/or alarm to a sleep, off,and/or debug mode. Servers 312 and/or communication hub 372 may transmitreceived threshold, activation, and/or deactivation signals to arespective entry unit 316, detection unit 344, camera 380, and/or alarm.In embodiments, user device 384 can be configured to transmit threshold,activation, and/or deactivation signals to a respective entry unit 316,detection unit 344, camera 380, and/or alarm via WiFi, ethernet, a LAN,Bluetooth, ZigBee, NFC, Piconet, RFID, or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 3B, entry unit 316 disposed at a first locationwithin environment 308 may be configured to transmit a detection signaldirectly to camera 380 disposed at a second location within environment308 and/or detection unit 344 disposed at a third location withinenvironment 308. Entry unit 316 may transmit the detection signal tocamera 380 and/or detection unit 344 by ad-hoc communications such asRFID, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Piconet, NFC, or any combination thereof, toname a few examples.

In embodiments, when camera 380 and/or detection unit 344 each receive adetection signal, at least a portion of each camera 380 and/or detectionunit 344 may be powered by a respective battery. Furthermore, each ofcamera 380 and/or detection unit 344 may be configured to switch from asleep or standby mode to an active mode when a detection signal isreceived.

According to embodiments, once at least a portion of detection units 344is powered, it may be configured to measure one or more particle countsproximate to its respective location within environment 308. Further,detections unit 344 may be configured to transmit these measurements tocommunication hub 372. In embodiments, once at least a portion of camera380 is powered, camera 380 may be configured to capture one or morepictures and/or videos of an area within environment 308 proximate tothe respective location of camera 380. Further, camera 380 may beconfigured to transmit these pictures and/or video to communication hub372.

Referring now to FIG. 4, graphical user interface (GUI) 400 for userdevice 384 is presented, according to an example embodiment. GUI 400 cancomprise an interactive GUI 400 that includes navigation buttons 404a-c, location selection 408, alert 412, and current window 416.

Navigation buttons 404 a-c can comprise interactive buttons having ashape (e.g. oval, rectangle, circle, square, etc.) and a textrepresenting one or more windows, sites, and/or menus associated withGUI 400. For example, navigation button 404 a can include textrepresenting a dashboard window, navigation button 404 b can includetext representing a readings window, and navigation button 404 c caninclude text representing a settings window. In embodiments, navigationbuttons 404 a-c can each be configured to receive an interaction withGUI 400 such as a tap on a touchscreen, a swipe on a touchscreen, amouse click, a keyboard entry, or any combination thereof, to name afew. In response to receiving an action with navigation buttons 404 a-c,GUI 400 may be configured to present a window in current window 416according to which navigation button 404 received an interaction. Forexample, if navigation button 404 b including text representing areadings window receives an interaction, GUI 400 may be configured topresent a readings window in current window 416.

Current window 416 may be configured to present information related to awindow presented by GUI 400. For example, current window 416 may beconfigured to present information related to a dashboard window, areadings window, and/or a settings window. Information related to adashboard window may comprise power levels of batteries associated withentry units, detection units, cameras, and/or communication hubs withina system vaporized aerosol detection system 100, alerts associated withentry units, detections units, cameras, and/or communication hubs withina system vaporized aerosol detection system 100, and/or maintenancealerts associated with entry units, detections units, cameras, and/orcommunication hubs within a system vaporized aerosol detection system100. Information related to a settings window can include selectable,modifiable, and/or interactive thresholds associated with entry units,detections units, cameras, and/or communication hubs within a systemvaporized aerosol detection system 100; selectable, modifiable, and/orinteractive activation signals generated with entry units, detectionsunits, cameras, and/or communication hubs within a system vaporizedaerosol detection system 100; and/or selectable, modifiable, and/orinteractive deactivation signals associated with entry units, detectionsunits, cameras, and/or communication hubs within a system vaporizedaerosol detection system 100.

Information related to a readings window may include measurements takenby one or more detection units such as particle counts, chemicalmake-ups, particle sizes, etc. Such information can be presented asdials, graphs, numbers, animations, or any combination thereof. Inembodiments, the readings window can be configured to displaymeasurements associated with a first location provided by a detectionunit in or proximate to that location. According to embodiments, thisfirst location may be indicated by location selection 408. Locationselection 408 can include interactive buttons, drop-down menus, lists,and/or sliders each having text representing one or more locationswithin an environment. Location selection 408 can be configured toreceive an interaction with GUI 400 such as a tap on a touchscreen, aswipe on a touchscreen, a mouse click, a keyboard entry, or anycombination thereof, to name a few. In response to receiving an actionwith location selection 408, GUI 400 may change the location indicatedby location selection 408 according to the received interaction. Suchlocations may include areas of an environment such as specific offices,classrooms, bathrooms, sectors, etc.

Alert 412 can include a window presenting whether an alert has occurred.For example, alert 412 can include text representing that a detectionevent has occurred, the time of the detection event, the location of thedetection event, and/or the frequency of a detection event. Inembodiments, alert 412 may be configured only to present alerts fordetection events that occur in locations indicated by location selection408.

With reference to FIG. 5 a flow chart illustrating a method forvaporized aerosol detection 500 is presented. At step 505, a triggersensor, such as a motion sensor, particle sensor, chemical sensor,and/or real time clock similar or the same as motion sensor 120,particle sensor 152, or chemical sensor 156, respectively, may beactive, for instance and without limitation in entry unit 116, detectionunit 144, or the like. According to an embodiment, at 510, the triggersensor may be configured to detect a triggering event. For example, amotion sensor 120 of entry unit 116 may be configured to determinewhether motion has been detected by detecting motion, proximity, and/orpresence of one or more objects 124 a-b within a first area or locationof an environment 108. In embodiments, detecting whether a triggeringevent has been detected in an environment 108 may include comparingcaptured measurements (such as motion, proximity, presence, size, speed,or any combination thereof) to a threshold value. In this way, certaintypes of measurements (such as motion from small animals) may befiltered out while other types of measurements (such as movement from aperson walking) will be detected. In another embodiment, a similarmethodology may be followed with a chemical sensor similar to or thesame as chemical sensor 156, for instance and without limitation asincorporated in detection unit 144. A Chemical sensor may additionallyor alternatively be powered on and upon detection of a substance ofinterest, may provide similar signals as motion sensor 120 configured topower the system as described below. In yet another example embodiment,a similar methodology may be followed with a particle sensor similar toor the same as particle sensor 152, such as without limitation, aparticle sensor incorporated in detection unit 144. A particle sensormay additionally or alternatively be powered on, and upon detection of asubstance of interest, may provide similar signals as motion sensor 120or chemical sensor 156 configured to power the system as describedbelow. Additionally, or alternatively, a real time clock and/or watchdogtimer, which keeps track of time, may be used as a timer to power systemand/or one or more units therein and/or components thereof on and off atpredetermined times or intervals to perform a polling cycle, asdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 1.

Further referring to FIG. 5, at step 510, if a triggering event has beendetected such as when motion has been detected, particles have beendetected, chemicals have been detected, and/or a predetermined time haselapsed or arrived then the system moves on to step 515, otherwise step505 is repeated. At 515, a portion of the system at a second location ofenvironment 108, which may correspond to at least a portion of a sensorsuite 148 similar or the same as sensor suite 148 is activated; forinstance, and without limitation, at least a detection unit 144 may beactivated upon receipt of a signal from entry unit 116. Step 515 mayinclude powering a portion of sensor suite 148 and arming constituentsensors. Arming of sensors at step 515 may also command those sensors tobegin taking measurements. Arming of sensors may be irrespective ofreadings of any sensors, in other words, if a triggering event isdetected at step 510, a sensor suite 148 may start taking measurementswith or without the presence of vaporized aerosols.

At step 520, and still referring to FIG. 5, a particle count ofenvironment 108 is measured by sensor suite 148 of detection unit 144.Sensor suite 148 may be configured to detect a quantity, size, density,composition, structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof, ofaerosolized particles in vaporized aerosol in a certain area similar orthe same as environment 108. In embodiments, sensor suite 148 may beconfigured to generate one or more signals including data representingquantity, size, density, composition, structure, dispersion, or anycombination thereof of aerosolized particles. According to embodiments,these signals may be sent to another device and/or component such ascommunication hub 172, one or more servers 112 a-c, a mobile device, orthe like.

At step 525, and with continued reference to FIG. 5, system 100 may beconfigured to determine whether a detection event has occurred.Determining whether a detection event has occurred may includedetermining a presence of substances 104 of interest in an area.Substances 104 of interest may include any substances 104 that may be acause of concern for an area. For example, substances 104 of interestmay include substances 104 that are disallowed in an area (such asnicotine, cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, tobacco smoke, etc.),particles that are hazardous (carbon monoxide, arsine, hydrogen azide,hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, etc.),undesirable particles for the area (tobacco smoke, nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, ammonia from pet excrement, etc.),or any combination thereof, to name a few. According to embodiments,determining presence of substances 104 of interest may includecomparing, respectively by a unit and/or component of system 100, suchas without limitation an electronics stack 128, entry unit 116,detection unit 144, communication hub 172, and/or at least a server, adetected size, structure, composition, density, and/or dispersion to athreshold value. For example, a detected size exceeding a thresholdvalue may indicate that substances 104 of interest are present in anarea.

Further referring to FIG. 5, at 525, system 100 may be configured tocompare a quantity, particle density, and/or dispersion of detectedsubstances 104 of interest to one or more predetermined threshold valuesin order to determine if a detection event has occurred. For example,system 100 may be configured to compare a detected particle density(such as from a cloud of aerosolized vape) to a threshold value anddetermine that the particle density has exceeded the threshold valueindicating a detection event has occurred. If a detection event hasoccurred then the system moves to step 530, otherwise the system repeatsstep 505.

At step 530, and continuing to refer to FIG. 5, an alarm signal isgenerated; the alarm signal may include a signal configured to induce analert from an alarm. An alert may include an auditory alert or signal(such as a buzzer, siren, horn, etc.), a visual alert or signal (such asan LED, strobe light, laser, LED screen, LCD screen, etc.), tactilealert or signal (such as a vibration alarm, motor, etc.), or anycombination thereof.

At 535, and further referring to FIG. 5, an alarm signal may betransmitted to one or more servers (the same or similar as servers 122a-c) or a user device, and additionally stored; alarm signal mayalternatively or additionally be generated on the one or more servers.An alarm signal may include data indicating that a detection event hasoccurred in the area and may be configured to display a particle count,density, size, composition, etc. as well as the area in which thedetection event occurred on the user device. A user device may include acomputer, a processor, a server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, orany combination thereof, to name a few. In embodiments, a user maydisable an alarm from a user device, whether that alarm was triggered bya detection event or a tamper event.

With reference to FIG. 6, a flow chart illustrating a method 600 forpower distribution in an aerosolized substance detection system ispresented. At step 605, a trigger sensor, such as a motion sensor,particle sensor, chemical sensor, or the like, which may be similar orthe same as motion sensor 120, particle sensor 152, or chemical sensor156, respectively, may be active. At step 610, a trigger sensor may beconfigured to determine whether a triggering event has occurred. Forexample, a motion sensor may be configured to determine whether motionhas been detected by detecting motion, proximity, and/or presence of oneor more objects 124 a-b within an area. Additionally, or alternatively,at 610, a particle sensor or chemical sensor may be configured todetermine if vaporized aerosols and/or chemicals are present within anarea. In embodiments, detecting whether motion has been detected in anenvironment 108 may include comparing a detected motion, proximity,presence, size, speed, or any combination thereof to a threshold value.In this way, certain types of motion (such as from small animals) may befiltered out while other types of motion (such as from a person walking)will be detected. In another example embodiment, a similar methodologymay be followed with a chemical sensor similar to or the same aschemical sensor 156. A chemical sensor may be powered on, and upondetection of a substance of interest, may provide similar signals asmotion sensor 120 configured to power the system as described below. Inyet another example embodiment, a similar methodology may be followedwith a particle sensor similar to or the same as particle sensor 152. Aparticle sensor may additionally or alternatively be powered on, andupon detection of a substance of interest, may provide similar signalsas motion sensor 120 or chemical sensor 156 configured to power thesystem as described below. Additionally, or alternatively, a real timeclock, which keeps track of time, may be used as a timer to power thesystem on and off at predetermined times or intervals.

Further referring to FIG. 6, at step 610, and in separate or the sameexample embodiments, if a triggering event such as when motion has beendetected, particles have been detected, chemicals have been detected,and/or a predetermined time has elapsed or arrived then system 100 maymove on to 615, otherwise 605 may be repeated. At step 615, a portion ofthe system 100 such as detection unit 144, may be activated. Inembodiments, activating a portion of system 100, such as detection unit144, may include providing power to one or more sensors within sensorsuite 148 from a battery 132 incorporated in detection unit 144. Inembodiments, power from battery 132 may be controlled and directed by adetection unit 144 electronics stack 128. Electronics stack 128 and/ordetection unit 144 may be configured to provide power to one or moresensors of the sensor suite 148 when motion, particles, chemicals, or ingeneral, substances 104 of interest have been detected in the area.Further, in embodiments, electronics stack 128 and/or detection unit 144may be configured to provide power from battery 132 to one or morecomponents of electronics stack 128 and/or detection unit 144 inresponse to motion being detected in the area.

Still referring to FIG. 6, at step 620, a particle count of environment108 is measured by powered sensors within sensor suite 148. Poweredsensors may be configured to detect quantity, size, density,composition, structure, dispersion, or any combination thereof, ofaerosolized particles in vaporized aerosol in a certain area similar orthe same as environment 108. In embodiments, powered sensors may beconfigured to generate one or more signals including data representing aquantity, size, density, composition, structure, dispersion, or anycombination thereof of aerosolized particles. According to embodiments,these signals may be sent to a detection unit 144 electronics stack.

At step 625, and with continued reference to FIG. 6, system 100 and/orany unit and/or element thereof may be configured to determine whether adetection event has occurred. Determining whether a detection event hasoccurred may include determining a presence of substances of interest104 in an area. Substances of interest 104 may include any particlesthat may be a cause of concern in an area. For example, substances ofinterest 104 may include particles that are disallowed in an area (suchas nicotine, cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, tobacco smoke, etc.),particles that are hazardous (carbon monoxide, arsine, hydrogen azide,hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen dioxide, viruses, bacteria, pathogens, etc.),undesirable particles for an area (tobacco smoke, nicotine,cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinoids, ammonia from pet excrement, etc.),or any combination thereof, to name a few. According to embodiments,determining a presence of substances of interest 104 may includecomparing, respectively by an electronics stack and/or at least aserver, a detected size, structure, composition, density, and/ordispersion to a threshold value. For example, a detected size exceedinga threshold value may indicate that substances of interest 104 arepresent in the area.

Further referring to FIG. 6 at step 625, network is configured tocompare a quantity, particle density, and/or dispersion of detectedsubstances of interest 104 to one or more predetermined threshold valuesin order to determine if a detection event has occurred. For example, asystem may be configured to compare a detected particle density ofcarbon di oxide to a threshold value and determine that the particledensity has exceeded a threshold value indicating a detection event hasoccurred. If a detection event has occurred then system 100 moves to630, otherwise the system may cease providing power to the sensors andthe system repeats step 605.

At step 630, and still referring to FIG. 6, power is provided from abattery to a transceiver within an electronics stack, such as withoutlimitation an electronics stack of detection unit 144. Transceiver maybe configured to transmit and/or receive data from one or more serversthe same or similar to servers 112 a-c and/or a user device via, forexample, internet, cellular networks, WIFI, Bluetooth, ZigBee, ethernet,wired connections, or any combination thereof. A user device may includea computer, a processor, a server, a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, orany combination thereof, to name a few.

At step 635, and with continued reference to FIG. 6, power is providedfrom a battery to an alarm. In embodiments, an alarm is configured togenerate an alert or signal when power is provided and/or an alarmsignal is received. Such an alert may include, but is not limited to, anaudible alert or signal (such as a buzzer, siren, horn, etc.), a visualalert or signal (such as an LED, strobe light, laser, LED screen, LCDscreen, etc.), tactile alert or signal (such as a vibration alarm,motor, etc.), or any combination thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a graph 700 representing example sensor signals708, 716, 720, 724, and 728 and an example threshold 732 over particlecount 704 vs time 712 is presented, according to an example embodiment.Graph 700 demonstrates an example particle count threshold that, whenexceeded, may trigger an alarm and/or alert. According to graph 700, itcan be seen that sensor signals 708, 716, 720, 724, and exceed threshold732. Conversely, sensor signal line 728 does not exceed threshold 732and would therefore not trigger an alarm and/or an alert due to adetection event that has occurred.

It is to be noted that any one or more of the aspects and embodimentsdescribed herein may be conveniently implemented using one or moremachines (e.g., one or more computing devices that are utilized as auser computing device for an electronic document, one or more serverdevices, such as a document server, etc.) programmed according to theteachings of the present specification, as will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the computer art. Appropriate software coding canreadily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of thepresent disclosure, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe software art. Aspects and implementations discussed above employingsoftware and/or software modules may also include appropriate hardwarefor assisting in the implementation of the machine executableinstructions of the software and/or software module.

Such software may be a computer program product that employs amachine-readable storage medium. A machine-readable storage medium maybe any medium that is capable of storing and/or encoding a sequence ofinstructions for execution by a machine (e.g., a computing device) andthat causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologies and/orembodiments described herein. Examples of a machine-readable storagemedium include, but are not limited to, a magnetic disk, an optical disc(e.g., CD, CD-R, DVD, DVD-R, etc.), a magneto-optical disk, a read-onlymemory “ROM” device, a random access memory “RAM” device, a magneticcard, an optical card, a solid-state memory device, an EPROM, an EEPROM,and any combinations thereof. A machine-readable medium, as used herein,is intended to include a single medium as well as a collection ofphysically separate media, such as, for example, a collection of compactdiscs or one or more hard disk drives in combination with a computermemory. As used herein, a machine-readable storage medium does notinclude transitory forms of signal transmission.

Such software may also include information (e.g., data) carried as adata signal on a data carrier, such as a carrier wave. For example,machine-executable information may be included as a data-carrying signalembodied in a data carrier in which the signal encodes a sequence ofinstruction, or portion thereof, for execution by a machine (e.g., acomputing device) and any related information (e.g., data structures anddata) that causes the machine to perform any one of the methodologiesand/or embodiments described herein.

Examples of a computing device include, but are not limited to, anelectronic book reading device, a computer workstation, a terminalcomputer, a server computer, a handheld device (e.g., a tablet computer,a smartphone, etc.), a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, any machine capable of executing a sequence ofinstructions that specify an action to be taken by that machine, and anycombinations thereof. In one example, a computing device may includeand/or be included in a kiosk.

FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of acomputing device in the exemplary form of a computer system 800 withinwhich a set of instructions for causing a control system to perform anyone or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the presentdisclosure may be executed. It is also contemplated that multiplecomputing devices may be utilized to implement a specially configuredset of instructions for causing one or more of the devices to performany one or more of the aspects and/or methodologies of the presentdisclosure. Computer system 800 includes a processor 804 and a memory808 that communicate with each other, and with other components, via abus 812. Bus 812 may include any of several types of bus structuresincluding, but not limited to, a memory bus, a memory controller, aperipheral bus, a local bus, and any combinations thereof, using any ofa variety of bus architectures.

Processor 804 may include any suitable processor, such as withoutlimitation a processor incorporating logical circuitry for performingarithmetic and logical operations, such as an arithmetic and logic unit(ALU), which may be regulated with a state machine and directed byoperational inputs from memory and/or sensors; processor 804 may beorganized according to Von Neumann and/or Harvard architecture as anon-limiting example. Processor 804 may include, incorporate, and/or beincorporated in, without limitation, a microcontroller, microprocessor,digital signal processor (DSP), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA),Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), Graphical Processing Unit(GPU), general purpose GPU, Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), analog ormixed signal processor, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), a floating pointunit (FPU), and/or system on a chip (SoC)

Memory 808 may include various components (e.g., machine-readable media)including, but not limited to, a random-access memory component, a readonly component, and any combinations thereof. In one example, a basicinput/output system 816 (BIOS), including basic routines that help totransfer information between elements within computer system 800, suchas during start-up, may be stored in memory 808. Memory 808 may alsoinclude (e.g., stored on one or more machine-readable media)instructions (e.g., software) 820 embodying any one or more of theaspects and/or methodologies of the present disclosure. In anotherexample, memory 808 may further include any number of program modulesincluding, but not limited to, an operating system, one or moreapplication programs, other program modules, program data, and anycombinations thereof.

Computer system 800 may also include a storage device 824. Examples of astorage device (e.g., storage device 824) include, but are not limitedto, a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical disc drive incombination with an optical medium, a solid-state memory device, and anycombinations thereof. Storage device 824 may be connected to bus 812 byan appropriate interface (not shown). Example interfaces include, butare not limited to, SCSI, advanced technology attachment (ATA), serialATA, universal serial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE), and anycombinations thereof. In one example, storage device 824 (or one or morecomponents thereof) may be removably interfaced with computer system 800(e.g., via an external port connector (not shown)). Particularly,storage device 824 and an associated machine-readable medium 828 mayprovide nonvolatile and/or volatile storage of machine-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, and/or other data forcomputer system 800. In one example, software 620 may reside, completelyor partially, within machine-readable medium 828. In another example,software 620 may reside, completely or partially, within processor 804.

Computer system 800 may also include an input device 832. In oneexample, a user of computer system 600 may enter commands and/or otherinformation into computer system 800 via input device 832. Examples ofan input device 832 include, but are not limited to, an alpha-numericinput device (e.g., a keyboard), a pointing device, a joystick, agamepad, an audio input device (e.g., a microphone, a voice responsesystem, etc.), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a touchpad, anoptical scanner, a video capture device (e.g., a still camera 180, avideo camera 180), a touchscreen, and any combinations thereof. Inputdevice 832 may be interfaced to bus 812 via any of a variety ofinterfaces (not shown) including, but not limited to, a serialinterface, a parallel interface, a game port, a USB interface, aFIREWIRE interface, a direct interface to bus 812, and any combinationsthereof. Input device 832 may include a touch screen interface that maybe a part of or separate from display 836, discussed further below.Input device 832 may be utilized as a user selection device forselecting one or more graphical representations in a graphical interfaceas described above.

A user may also input commands and/or other information to computersystem 600 via storage device 824 (e.g., a removable disk drive, a flashdrive, etc.) and/or network interface device 840. A network interfacedevice, such as network interface device 640, may be utilized forconnecting computer system 800 to one or more of a variety of networks,such as network 844, and one or more remote devices 848 connectedthereto. Examples of a network interface device include, but are notlimited to, a network interface card (e.g., a mobile network interfacecard, a LAN card), a modem, and any combination thereof. Examples of anetwork include, but are not limited to, a wide area network (e.g., theInternet, an enterprise network), a local area network (e.g., a networkassociated with an office, a building, a campus or other relativelysmall geographic space), a telephone network, a data network associatedwith a telephone/voice provider (e.g., a mobile communications providerdata and/or voice network), a direct connection between two computingdevices, and any combinations thereof. A network, such as network 844,may employ a wired and/or a wireless mode of communication. In general,any network topology may be used. Information (e.g., data, software 820,etc.) may be communicated to and/or from computer system 800 via networkinterface device 840.

Computer system 800 may further include a video display adapter 852 forcommunicating a displayable image to a display device, such as displaydevice 836. Examples of a display device include, but are not limitedto, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), a plasmadisplay, a light emitting diode (LED) display, and any combinationsthereof. Display adapter 852 and display device 836 may be utilized incombination with processor 804 to provide graphical representations ofaspects of the present disclosure. In addition to a display device,computer system 800 may include one or more other peripheral outputdevices including, but not limited to, an audio speaker, a printer, andany combinations thereof. Such peripheral output devices may beconnected to bus 812 via a peripheral interface 856. Examples of aperipheral interface include, but are not limited to, a serial port, aUSB connection, a FIREWIRE connection, a parallel connection, and anycombinations thereof.

The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrativeembodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.Features of each of the various embodiments described above may becombined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate inorder to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associatednew embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number ofseparate embodiments, what has been described herein is merelyillustrative of the application of the principles of the presentinvention. Additionally, although particular methods herein may beillustrated and/or described as being performed in a specific order, theordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve methods,systems, and software according to the present disclosure. Accordingly,this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not tootherwise limit the scope of this invention.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that whichis specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vaporized aerosol, particle, and gas detectionnetwork, the network comprising: an entry unit disposed at a firstlocation of an environment, the entry unit comprising: a trigger sensorconfigured to detect a triggering event in the first location of theenvironment and generate a detection signal in response to the detectedtriggering event in the first location of the environment; and an entryunit housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the triggersensor; a detection unit disposed at a second location of theenvironment and communicatively connected to the entry unit, thedetection unit comprising: a particle sensor configured to detect aparticle count proximate to the second location of the environment inresponse to the generation of the detection signal; and a detection unithousing configured to enclose at least a portion of the particle sensor;and a camera communicatively connected to the entry unit and thedetection unit.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the entry unit has apolling mode; and the entry unit is configured to periodically power on,check for the triggering event, and power off.
 3. The system of claim 2,wherein: the entry unit has a scanning mode, in which the entry unit isconfigured to communicate with the detection unit; and the entry unit isconfigured to enter the scanning mode when the trigger sensor detectsthe triggering event.
 4. The network of claim 1, wherein the detectionunit is configured to detect a detection event as a function of theparticle count.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the detection unit isfurther configured to detect the detection event as a function ofcomparing the particle count to a predetermined threshold.
 6. Thenetwork of claim 1, wherein: the detection unit has a low-power mode;and the detection unit is configured to periodically power on, check forcommunication from the entry unit, and power off when in the low-powermode.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein: the detection unit has adetection mode, in which the detection unit is configured to detect theparticle count using the particle sensor; and the detection unit isconfigured to enter the detection mode upon receiving a communicationfrom the entry unit.
 8. The network of claim 1, further comprising acommunication hub communicatively connected to the entry unit and thedetection unit, wherein the communication hub is communicativelyconnected to at least a server.
 9. The network of claim 8, wherein a hubis configured to detect a detection event as a function of the particlecount.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communication hub isfurther configured to detect the detection event as a function ofcomparing the particle count to a predetermined threshold.
 11. Thenetwork of claim 8, wherein the at least a server is configured todetect a detection event as a function of the particle count.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the at least a server is further configuredto detect the detection event as a function of comparing the particlecount to a predetermined threshold.
 13. The system of claim 8, whereinthe communication hub is at least one of the entry unit and the detectorunit.
 14. The system of claim 8, further comprising a repeater node,wherein the repeater node is configured to: receive a signal from atleast one of the entry unit and the detection unit; and transmit thesignal to the communication hub.
 15. The network of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the entry unit housing and the detection unit housingcomprises a tampering sensor configured to detect a tampering event andgenerate a tamper alarm in response to the tampering event.
 16. Thenetwork of claim 1, wherein at least one selected from the entry unithousing and the detection unit housing includes venting openings. 17.The system of claim 1, wherein the detection unit housing is configuredto be disposed inline in an air circulation system.
 18. The system ofclaim 1 further comprising an alarm configured to produce an alert inresponse to the detected particle count.
 19. The system of claim 1,further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect atemperature of the environment in response to the generation of thedetection signal.
 20. A vaporized aerosol, particle, and gas detectionnetwork, the network comprising: an entry unit disposed at a firstlocation of an environment, the entry unit comprising: a trigger sensorconfigured to detect a triggering event in the first location of theenvironment and generate a detection signal in response to the detectedtriggering event in the first location of the environment; and an entryunit housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the triggersensor; a detection unit disposed at a second location of theenvironment and communicatively connected to the entry unit, thedetection unit comprising: a particle sensor configured to detect aparticle count proximate to the second location of the environment inresponse to the generation of the detection signal; and a detection unithousing configured to enclose at least a portion of the particle sensor;and a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of theenvironment in response to the generation of the detection signal.